Improvement in the manufacture of sheet-iron



I ZShBe'fs- -Sheet f. DANIEL L. PRATT. Improvement i n the Manufacture of Sheet Iron. No. 125,079, PatentedlMar ch 26,1872.

2 sheets -slheet DANIEL L. PRATT.

Improvement in the Manufacture of Sheet Iron.

N02 125,079; Patented March 26,1872.

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we. Maze UNITED STATES PATENT, Crrron;

DANIELH'LLPBATT, or BETHESDA, 01110.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEE T-IRON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,079, dated March 26,1872. i

Specification of certain Improvements in the Manufacture of Sheet-Iron, invented by DAN- mL L. PRATT, of Bethesda, in the county of Belmont, State of Ohio.

The invention consists in transverse rolling of iron plate in order to condense the texture and improve the surface.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the rolling apparatus. 1 Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line a b, Fig. 2.

A A are the standards or housings of the machine. B is an anvil or bed-block, its upper surface being a perfect plane and polished. On the block B rests the plate of sheetiron 0. D is a bar, which is moved endwise by a pitman, E, resting upon a roller, F, which traverses on the plate of sheet-iron. G is a block, which rests by its rollers H H on the traverse-bar D; and I I are set-screws in the housing, by which the block G is limited as to its upward movement.

Operation.

The iron may be prepared in any suitable way previous to the operation of cross-rollin g and I do not limit myself to any specific mode of previous preparation. I may cite the mode described in my United States patent No. 46,- 384, dated February 14, 1865, which is thus describedin the Patent-Office Report of that year:

This invention consists in immersing the sheet metal in a bath composed of a mixture of organic and inorganic acids, the solution being heated to 150 Fahrenheit, and the metal remainin gtherein from three to twelve hours. The metal is then taken from the bath, washed and scrubbed, and immersed in an alkaline solution consisting of water and carbonate of potash, the said bath being also heated to 150 Fahrenheit. The metal is then taken out and passed between two wheel-brushes, jets of water being thrown upon each. brush during the operation, after which it is heated until perfectly dry. It is then placed in a bath of animal oil at 100 or 150 Fahrenheit and allowed to remain ten or fifteen minutes, when it is taken out and dripped and passed between two polished chilled-iron rollers, after which it is passed between wooden rollers covered with leather, the sheet being dusted during the operation with powdered chalk or brick-dust. It is then colored by being placed over a bed of burning charcoal until it acquires the requisite shade.

The iron sheethavingbeen prepared in this or any other suitable manner, the end is laid up on the block B between guides, if found necessary, and then the machine is set to work to roll the sheet across or transversely ofits length. The condensing-roller has a finely-polished surface, and may be six inches long on its face, and the sheet-iron may be fed forward two inches after each passage of the roller. In this case each portion of the sheet will be three times subjected to the pressure. This dimension (six inches) for the length of the face of the roll is not given as determinate, for different irons may require rolls of different diameters and lengths of face. The face of the anvil-block B and the upper side of the traversin g bar D are perfectly smooth and parallel, so that the iron may maintain. or acquire an even thickness at all points, or a sufficiently near approximation toexactitude in this respect. The degree of pressure is adapted to circumstances, varying with the condition of the iron, or for other reasons not necessary to specify. The iron may be rolled hot or cold, according to circumstances. The traversing bar D may have two rolls on its under side, if found desirable. The plate may, if desirable, be supported by a roller beneath, but I prefer the polished block. The traversing bar D is shown working beneath anti-friction rollers H H of the block G; but the rollers may possibly be dispensed with and the bar work in grooves. All the parts of the machine may be of cast-iron, except the condensing-roll, which may be of chilled iron or steel, as may be required. The traversing bar D may be guided in a proper path between the housings either by slides or by anti-friction rollers applied to the inner faces of the housing, or by flanges on the wheel H. To prevent the condensing-roll F dropping down onto the bed-block. B when it passes off the sheet 0 at each side, I prefer to employ supporting-rolls K K, mounted upon adjustable brackets L L, or otherwise supported in such a manner as to adapt them to be accurately adjusted in height. For this purpose their supports may encircle the housings,

and be supported and adjusted by vertical screws to suit the size of the condensing-roll and thickness of the iron.

Claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim v as new is-- 1. The rolling of sheet-iron by a traversing roller across the line of direction of its former passage through the rolls.

2. The combination of the block B and a weighted traversing roller F, actuated by a bar, D, or otherwise.

3. I claim a condensing-roller, attached to a traversing bar, and actuated across a plate beneath, whether the plate-support be a roller or block.

4. I claim giving a pressure upon the plate by a pair of traversing rollers, between which the plate is nipped and compressed.

DANIEL L. PRATT.

Witnesses J ENKINSON WRIGHT,- IRA VAIL. 

